The Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall is a breathtaking 10-km hike that combines the wild and restored Great Wall. We will be rewarded with fantastic scenery when we reach different sections of the Wall. The Jiankou to Mutianyu hike is worth to be on our list of things to do.

From our meeting point at Lama Temple subway station (exit B), it takes us about 2 hours to reach the village where we have lunch. After lunch, we start hiking a steep dirt trail that leads to the Great Wall. It is a 500-meter ascent that takes us about 1 hour. Our efforts are rewarded when we stand on top of the Zhengbeilou Watchtower (991m) where some of the most spectacular pictures have been taken.

We walk east on the Wall to the highest point of Jiankou (1029 meters), allowing you to see the entire Mutianyu Great Wall plus most part of Jiankou as well. It’s a very enjoyable walk on top of the well preserved Great Wall where we pass the famous “Bull’s Horn section”.

After a good hour hiking on top of the Jiankou Great Wall, a tree full of prayer flags announces the start of the Mutianyu Great Wall. Here the Great Wall is restored. A short hike on the Mutianyu Great Wall leads us past 4 guard towers before we take start our 1 hour downhill hike through the valley. The trail ends at a picturesque village where our driver will be waiting for us. By 7 pm we should be back at our meeting point in Beijing.

Level 3: Medium-strongA good physical condition is required for hiking in these designed trails. Hikes marked as level 3 are usually long day hikes or day hikes that include a steep uphill hike and/or trails where some balance is needed. Usually kids from age of 10 are all right with these trips.